FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 12, 2005

ISA’s International Sign Expo Is Named A Top 200 Tradeshow For Third Year In A Row

Alexandria, VA ­ The International Sign Association’s (ISA) International Sign Expo was again named to Tradeshow Week magazine’s prestigious Tradeshow Week 200 list, ranking in at the 124th largest trade show in the nation.

This is the third year in a row ISA’s Expo made the top 200. In 2004, the Expo ranked number 132 on the list; in 2003 it ranked 142.

“I think it’s quite an accomplishment to even make the list,” ISA Chairman of the Board Ebbie Phillips said. “But ISA has achieved this distinction three years running. It’s taken a lot of hard, smart work not only by our staff, but by our Board of Directors, our volunteers and our affiliated organizations. It’s been a real team effort.”

“I’m not surprised that we’re rising in rank,” says ISA President and CEO Lori Anderson. “The Expo is the number one place to gain information about the sign industry, its products, and the way business is conducted.”

Tradeshow Week 200 is the culmination of a year-long process of compiling and analyzing data on more than 4,700 shows held in the United States during 2004, basing its rankings on the net square footage of exhibit space sold, said Adam Schaffer, publisher of the Los Angeles-based magazine. “ISA’s show size keeps increasing, and that’s reflected in where it’s placed on the list,” Schaffer said. “It’s a fluid ranking based on very specific criteria.”

ISA sold 1,494 booths for Expo 2004, which was held in Orlando, Fla., and was the show on which this ranking was based.

This announcement comes on the heels of the recent record-breaking Expo, held March 31-April 2 in Las Vegas, Nev. Final numbers for that show indicate that 21,777 attendees representing 98 countries were able to speak with 583 companies exhibiting in 1,647 exhibit booths.

“We were ranked number 124 this year based on last year’s Expo,” Phillips said. “This year, we dramatically outsold Expo 2004. Can you imagine what our ranking will be next year?”

Over 70 percent of exhibit booth space has been reserved for the 60th International Sign Expo, scheduled for April 2-5, 2006, in Orlando, Fla. “We are enthusiastic that the exhibiting community continues to support ISA and our Expo,” said Anderson. “With nearly three-quarters of booth space already sold, we look forward to another successful event next year.”

For further information about ISA International Sign Expo 2006, contact ISA at (703) 836-4012 or visit www.signs.org.

ISA is an 1,800 member organization composed of manufacturers, users, and suppliers of on-premise signs and sign products produced by more than 400,000 employees in all 50 states and 69 foreign countries. ISA exists to support, promote, and improve the $30 billion-a-year sign industry, which sustains the nation’s nearly $3 trillion-a-year retail industry.

ISA (Internatonal Sign Association)
707 North Saint Asaph Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone: 703-836-4012
Fax: 703-836-8353
Website URL: www.signs.org